Pair accused of stealing concert tickets, dragging victim with car

A man was run over by a car during a robbery. The target? Tickets to a Jay Z concert

January 2, 2014 2:53:13 PM PST

HOUSTON --

Two women are accused of stealing concert tickets from a man who was trying to sell them on Craigslist, and then running over the victim as well.

Denitra Green and Cessica Darden, both age 20, are facing charges in connection with the attack that took place on Sunday, December 15.

The victim told police that he had eight tickets to the December 18 Jay Z concert at the Toyota Center but was unable to attend, so he posted the tickets on Craigslist to sell. Darden contacted him via Craigslist and they agreed to meet at a Starbucks to make the transaction.

According to court documents, the victim and his girlfriend met Darden and Green, who remained inside Green's car with a baby in the backseat. As the man leaned in the car window, Darden reportedly snatched the tickets and Green sped out of the parking lot. The victim was stuck in the passenger door and begged for Green to stop the car.

"He was begging them and instead of stopping, they drove faster," said Andino Reynal, the victim's attorney.

Several witnesses reported seeing the car speeding down Durham with the victim clinging on, trying to avoid being dragged by the car. Darden allegedly kicked the man in the arm to try to shake him loose.

"She kicked his arm so hard, they broke it," said Reynal. "It was a clean break. He's going to have to have surgery. When the arm broke, he came off the car and the car ran over his legs."

Witnesses called for an ambulance and applied CPR until paramedics arrived. One witness followed the car and was able to provide police with a license plate number.

Court documents state the victim suffered a broken left arm, a broken right leg, a broken right hand and several crushed fingers on his right hand, as well as a torn right knee and severe road rash to his face and body. He remains hospitalized and has been told he may need plastic surgery, and may not look the same as he did before the attack. Additionally he is expected to have permanent damage to his fingers, and may not be able to walk normally due to the damage to his leg and knee.

While the victim was lying in a hospital bed near death, the young women were at the concert four days later, watching Jay Z using the stolen tickets.

Reynal said, "They're partying and having a good time."

The victim has months of recovery ahead of him and while it seems he did everything right when setting up the transaction, what happened is yet another warning, according to his attorney, about using online classifieds.

"It's really a question not only of buyer beware, but also seller beware," Reynal said.